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Business support

One of the four key ambitions within the council's Economic Wellbeing Strategy (PDF, 2.2mb) is for Southwark to become a place of choice to start and grow a business. To achieve this, we design and fund a range of business support services while also working with various partners to improve access to other programmes for Southwark businesses.

If you own a business in Southwark or you're thinking about starting a business, and you'd like to find out more about the business support and advice services available, email SouthwarkBusinessDesk@southwark.gov.uk.

General advice and guidance

The services below offer general business support and guidance.

Business Support Service

The Business Support Service is a government funded initiative that provides help with starting and running a business. They also have some helpful videos on their YouTube channel.  

The Business Support Service website offers more information on the service. 

You can also contact them via:

They're available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.

Free Disability Advice Service for London SMEs

Smarter London SMEs is a new service from the Business Disability Forum. It supports small and medium sized businesses based in London to receive free support and advice on disability and how it relates to their organisations. Receive advice on areas such as understanding disability and the law, guidance on adjustments and your responsibility as an inclusive employer.

Grow London Local

Grow London Local is the single front door for business support in London, navigating micro and small business owners to support at the right time, right place and right cost. It brings together all the business support available nationally, regionally and locally from public, private and third sector providers into one place.

The Grow London Local service is accessible through both in person advisers and via an online platform.

Access for free at Grow London Local.

The London Enterprise Panel’s Growth Hub

The London Enterprise panel maintains a ‘Growth Hub’ which keeps a list of available business support to businesses situated within the capital. The Hub provides useful search services to allow businesses to quickly and efficiently find relevant support services.

There's also a live chat and a link to the Business Support Service. Take a look at the Growth Hub.

SAGE advice

SAGE has a useful advice blog providing a range of free articles to help entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their businesses. Articles range from how to start a business, to basic guides on business accounting and free invoice templates.

If you’re interested in reading their advice, visit the SAGE website.

LSBU - Business Solutions Centre

London South Bank University operated Business Solutions Centre offers a free drop in service to local businesses. Trained student advisors from the Universities' School of Business provide advice on a 1-2-1 basis.

The service consists of:

  1. Initial diagnostic meeting
  2. Solutions report compiled by student advisor 
  3. Report signed off by LSBU staff
  4. Solutions report communicated to business, either by email or in person

Small Business Research and Enterprise Centre

Visit the Small Business Research and Enterprise Centre for:

  • expert staff to save you time and help you find what you need for your business career
  • a space in the City to use the internet and have access to a range of books, magazines and databases
  • making your own customised B2B mailing list for anywhere in the UK and/or the world
  • range of seminars/workshops and training
  • room hire 

This free to use service is available to anyone.

Open to export

Open to Export is a community-based business service aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises with their exporting and international trade needs. The website contains extensive exporting resources from government and specialist organisations. The website includes a popular Q&A section where business owners can ask questions to the wider community and get the answers they need.

View the Open to export website for more information. 

Capital List

Capital List is a service available free of charge to London based SMEs as part of the Capital Accelerator Programme, a project part-funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Capital List delivers:

  • a fundraising consultancy service
  • pitch workshops
  • networking drinks
  • access to seed capital through the London Co-Investment Fund

Newable

Newable operates a variety of programmes aimed at supporting businesses through various schemes. These vary from programmes aimed at supporting business start-ups to projects designed to increase growth and business development.

For more information on the different projects available, visit the Newable website.

Acas

Acas is the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Acas helps employers and employees by providing impartial advice, guidance, training, conciliation and other services that prevent or resolve workplace disputes.

Enterprise Ventures

Enterprise Ventures provides venture capital and loans to small businesses in England and Wales. They can provide finance of up to £2 million for businesses in all sectors and at all stages of development - from funding for start-ups to investment to help you grow your business, fund a management buy-out or buy-in and replacement capital.

More information can be found on the Enterprise Ventures website.

Business Space

Looking to let from the council? Need space for meetings or events?

View our commercial properties to let for more information.

Page last updated: 25 April 2024

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